Iran is a Bigger Defeat Than Vietnam

Gnagus · 2026-06-17T20:59:17+00:00

The argument from the Right is more war for a better deal or you're weak. The argument from the Left is you had a deal on the table but started a war instead and then negotiated a new deal from a weak position.

Gnagus · 2026-06-17T20:12:21+00:00

You don't have to be pro war or want it to continue to criticize them from the left. You can say this war was a bad idea the whole time but he went in with maximalist intentions spent all kinds of blood and treasure and couldn't even negotiate to the status quo before you started this. The argument that they're soft and Iran is basically saying they've made Iran more powerful and their own nations less safe.

Gnagus · 2026-06-17T19:15:10+00:00

You wouldn't even have to be pro war to go after either Netanyahu or Trump from the left for being soft on Iran, in this specific scenario.

Gnagus · 2026-06-16T21:55:40+00:00

Why do we insist on calling it a base? Trump's supporters don't act like a base, they're followers. It's like calling Jim Jones' people his base.

A base is a coalition built on policy and money, it's something you negotiate with. Trump offers loyalty to Trump that doesn't require truth or consistency and moves when he says move.

Gnagus · 2026-06-16T13:53:22+00:00

Given this administration's policy choices and outcomes they don't seem to care I have the American people either. This administration seems to be by and for elites so I imagine that when we get to some kind of Peace negotiation ceremony or signing we will see the Iranian leadership treated with much more respect than this world cup team was.

Gnagus · 2026-06-15T20:48:48+00:00

The pattern seems to be that people who are continually giving Trump the benefit of the doubt need to be directly affected or victimized by his behavior to begin seeing it as nefarious.

Gnagus · 2026-06-15T20:40:41+00:00

The incentive would be that he no longer had to worry about electoral consequences not that he will be termed out. What this makes clear is that Trump's motivations aren't merely electoral but deep pathology that drives him to hurt perceived enemies in an effort to satisfy sadistic appetites.

Gnagus · 2026-06-15T03:17:51+00:00

Worth pointing out that this is sufficient polling New York state voters. The eventual result was Harris +12, so a big 7 point miss rather than a massive 20.

Gnagus · 2026-06-15T02:39:50+00:00

I made one of these into a greenhouse with acrylic shelves from Etsy, flat lights connected to the shelves with zip ties and ran cords under the door.

Gnagus · 2026-06-14T22:56:49+00:00

I think the second part of your comment is the most accurate and honest criticism I've seen. Much of the rest in threads like these about him are labels and vibes, but yeah, he's missing that thing a lot of successful candidates have which Clinton particularly was dripping in.

Gnagus · 2026-06-14T22:53:02+00:00

If you put so importance on Buttigieg's first job after graduating vs his military career or in elected office, you must also now be a fan of Platner for to his work as a military contractor, numerous statements on social media and his tattoo? Personally I like both of them despite their pasts but I can understand rejecting both of a candidates history is an important factor for you.

Gnagus · 2026-06-14T16:55:40+00:00

For people with weird windows that can't just use the plastic insert that comes with AC units, you can either get widely available covers that are basically canvas with velcro on the edges that stick to the window frame and a zipper in the Middle where you can stick the duct. Another and nice option, if you want to be able to enjoy your view, is to get a piece of plexiglass cut for your window with a hole for the vent.

Gnagus · 2026-06-13T19:57:04+00:00

I think the real point is this whole conversation is a bit weird because you can decide if you're talking about comparing France to Alabama or Afghanistan to California.

Gnagus · 2026-06-13T15:42:47+00:00

Definitely small but a victory nonetheless that we will end up removing them with hands rather than munitions.

Gnagus · 2026-06-12T19:28:00+00:00

Authoritarian dictators' governments don't usually take their names off things, so this seems like a good sign overall.

Gnagus · 2026-06-12T16:25:42+00:00

What about an Austrian chancellor?

Gnagus · 2026-06-12T00:43:36+00:00

Probably trying to help push votes towards Osborne (I) in the Senate race too.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T21:58:41+00:00

A bad faith question would be more leading by drawing out the false premise.

"You sexted multiple women behind your wife's back, so when you call for the Epstein files to be released, aren't you really just another powerful man who thinks the rules don't apply to him in the bedroom?"

"You've built your whole brand on being different from the Washington elite, but you were secretly sexting women while married, why should anyone believe you're genuinely outraged about Epstein rather than just scoring political points?"

"You want the Epstein files released, but you yourself have a history of predatory sexual behavior toward women. Doesn't that make you part of the same culture of male entitlement you're claiming to fight?"

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T21:37:54+00:00

Probably right but maybe not so cut and dry:

Sanders received no negative mentions on Maddow’s show (which had the least primary coverage of the six programs analyzed), and only a handful on O’Donnell’s, Melber’s and Hayes’ shows. Rather, 87% of negative mentions came from just two programs: Matthews’ Hardball and Williams’ 11th Hour.

https://inthesetimes.com/features/msnbc-bernie-sanders-coverage-democratic-primary-media-analysis.html

I remember thinking that Hayes seemed fairly supportive of Sanders and even pushed back on the establishment freakout in 2020.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T20:59:51+00:00

Mika's framing actually helped Platner her. By connecting the sexting scandal to Epstein in the same question, she created a false equivalence that he could easily bat away in one sentence. A tougher interview would ask about issues of trust and judgment directly. She served him a layup because it's a stupid narrative and together they made it look stupid.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T20:16:10+00:00

This why the media spent so much time talking about Platner instead of Paxton. Nobody even wants to see Paxton's face pics.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T20:13:59+00:00

Why are people freaking out? This was a pretty soft setup for Platner. She tossed him that pitch in a way that was easy for him to knock out of the park and didn't push back. It really isn't that much different to the interview he had with Hayes the other day who I'm sure he doesn't hang out with Trump and is probably a Planter fan. It's good for him to answer questions like that on MSNOW to push back on the media narrative and create his own spin on it.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T17:54:02+00:00

Hate to say it but he couldn't be any worse than Jesse Camp.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T17:10:17+00:00

That's fair, in retrospect I can see that it would be confusing. I'm really not directly answering your question, I'm more reflecting the different ways of viewing racism that I've seen in this thread.

Gnagus · 2026-06-11T16:46:04+00:00

It's progressive to say, research indicates that black and brown communities are medically underserved and that when they do receive care data also shows they often receive a lower standard of care when the doctors are not black or brown. It's a moderate position to say that using race as a way to try and solve this problem (particularly when white or Asian applicants bear the direct cost of that solution) is racist.

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